Distribution of Fake Vaccines Being Mapped - Sanctions for Perpetrators Has No Deterrent Effect

The National Police's criminal investigations division has mapped the distribution chain of fake vaccines to find out the number and location of recipients. The investigation showed that four hospitals in Bekasi, West Java, allegedly used the fake vaccines.

"We mapped the chain of distribution in areas where the perpetrators carried out their operation. We want to know the end users of the vaccines so that we, the Health Ministry and the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency [BPOM] know which places need to be followed up," National Police special economic crimes director Brig. Gen. Agung Setya said in Jakarta on Wednesday (29/6/2016).

Investigators now have data on the distribution network for the fake vaccines. They can then identify hospitals and other health clinics that ordered the vaccines from four groups of producers. The goal is to identify babies that received the vaccines. "Although it is hard, we have to find out the identity of those babies. We want to ensure those children get quality health care," he said.

The National Police are coordinating with the Heath Ministry to recheck vaccine stocks at hospitals. The police have not withdrawn the alleged fake vaccines from the market given the ongoing assessment by the BPOM.

There are four hospitals in Bekasi where the fake vaccines are suspected to have been widely used. However, Agung did not reveal the name of the hospitals. Information from 16 suspects suggested the fake vaccines were distributed in Jakarta, Banten, West Java, Central Java, Yogyakarta, East Java, Medan (North Sumatra), Padang (West Sumatra) and Aceh. "Our investigation is structured, scientific and certain. So, if we find one hospital, we make an assessment to find other hospitals," Agung said.

National Police criminal investigations head Comr. Gen. Ari Dono Sukmanto said the police would reveal the names of the hospitals upon completing the investigation. If the police disclosed the name of the hospital during the investigation, it would disrupt the investigation, the collection of evidence and the alleged involvement of hospital staff members, such as in providing the fake vaccine producers with used vaccine ampoules.

Checking

Meanwhile, BPOM offices (BBPOM) in several regions are also investigating fake vaccines at local health clinics. In Aceh, the BBPOM found expired polio vaccines at Montella Hospital in Meulaboh, West Aceh.

In Medan, the punishment for perpetrators of fake medicine production is lenient, thus having no deterrent effect. For example, DS, a resident in Medan Tembung, Medan, who used diphenhydramine to produce antitetanus serum (ATS) and vaccines in 2014 only received a two-year prison sentence. In fact, the Health Law carries a maximum 15-year sentence and Rp 1.5 billion in fines for such crimes.

Medan's BBPOM head Alibata Harahap also said there was a distributor of fake antitetanus serum and tetanus vaccine. The fake serum and vaccine were made of diphenhydramine, with the labels on the ampoules replaced. The price of diphenhydramine is Rp 2,000 per ampoule and it is sold for Rp 150,000 after its label is replaced with an ATS label.

The BBPOM in Semarang, meanwhile, found alleged fake bacillus calmette guerin (BCG) vaccine in the provincial capital. BBPOM head Endang Pudjiatmi said there were no labels on the ampoules regarding a distribution permit and expiry date. If the vaccine is proven to be fake after a laboratory test in Jakarta, the BBPOM has recommended the clinic be given harsh sanctions.

Central Java Health Office head Yulianto Prabowo said three health clinics in Semarang were suspected to have distributed fake vaccines as the clinics got vaccines from unofficial or illegal networks.

The Health Ministry's Community Service and Communication Bureau head Oscar Primadi said the vaccines used by the government in the mandatory basic immunization program came from official sources. "The vaccines used in the immunization program were distributed from the Health Ministry to local health offices, community health clinics [Puskesmas] and integrated health services [Pos yandu]. So, they are safe," he said.

The Health Ministry's disease control and prevention director general M. Subuh said the mandatory basic immunization program was aimed at protecting toddlers below 5 years old from illness. Some illnesses that can be prevented with immunization are diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, tuberculosis, polio, measles and hepatitis B.

Concerned Parents Foundation (Yayasan Orang Tua Peduli) volunteer Arifianto, who is also a physician at the Pasar Rebo Hospital in East Jakarta, said the fake vaccine case had a negative impact on the immunization program. Parents have become worried that the vaccines administered to their kids are counterfeit.

PT Bio Farma marketing director Mahendra Suhardono assured that none of the company's products had been fabricated. Bio Farma is a state-owned pharmaceutical company that produces vaccines for the government-sponsored free vaccination program at health clinics. The technology used by Bio Farma has made its vaccines difficult to counterfeit.

 

Source Kompas, Thursday, June 30, 2016